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Wauseon To Play For DII State Championship

On Thursday morning Wauseon faced off against a talented Eastmoor Academy team in the DII State Semifinals in Columbus, the winner to play for the Championship on Saturday morning.

The game started off at an incredibly slow pace from an offensive perspective as neither team could really free themselves up for open looks and easy finishes at the rim. If this game were to be played to Wauseon’s liking, it was going to be played at a slow pace such as this, as the Indians allowed fewer than 38 ppg. throughout the season and their tournament run.

The scoring would begin with Carter Bzovi getting a tough inside bucket to get Wauseon on the scoreboard, that and an old-fashioned three point play from Brooks Gype would be the only early scoring for the Indians, and they would lead 10-6 after the 1st quarter of play.

The second quarter would lack even more offensive production as there would be even fewer points put on the board by either team. Wauseon junior big man Austin Rotroff would get involved with a two-handed jam and some swatted shots on the defensive end but that would be about as interesting as it would get, Wauseon would lead Eastmoor Academy 13-10 at the half.

The third quarter would see the pace of play pick up, as Eastmoor Academy would pick up the full-court pressure and get some shots to fall. Wauseon would do some scoring of their own in large part by Gype and Bzovi, however Rotroff would pick up his third foul sending him to the bench. That would be all Eastmoor Academy needed to make a run, spirited by junior guard Taevion Kinsey, and they would hold a 25-24 lead over Wauseon after the 3rd.

Scoring would continue at a similar pace in the final period of play, and Wauseon would regain their momentum with Rotroff back in the post. It would be Owen Newlove off the bench for the Indians that would get consecutive tough finishes in the paint to give them a little separation. The Wauseon defense would continue to stifle the Eastmoor Academy offense; that along with the clutch play of junior guard Brooks Gype down the stretch would be all the Indians needed. After some timely free throws late in the contest, Wauseon would wrap this one up and defeat Eastmoor Academy by a final score of 42-35. Brooks Gype would lead Wauseon with 14 points, followed by Carter Bzovi with 13 points.

The Wauseon Indians advance to the DII State Championship game where they will play Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, the alma mater of one LeBron James. The game is slated for Saturday morning.